Check strap for picker sticks



Oct. 21, 1947. c R. B. ETcHu-:R 2,429,348

V CHECK STRAP FOR PICKER STICKS Filed Oct. 12,1945

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'.Patented Oct. 21, 1947 CHECK STRAP FOR PICKER STICKS Robert BenjaminEtchier, Gastonia, N. C., as-

signor of one-tenth to J. Chester Johnson,

Mooresville, N. C.

Application October l2, 1945, Serial No. 622,013

Claims.

This invention relates to looms having picker sticks for operating areciprocating shuttle, and pertains particularly to an improved checkstrap to cooperate with and limit the movement of the picker stick,

The check strap of this invention is particularly intended for use inlooped form, the overlapped ends of the strap being supported by abracket carried by some portion of the loom, as for eX- ample adepending bracket extending downwardly from a shuttle guide. In thatarrangement the picker stick moves back and forth within the loop and atthe end of the stroke of the picker stick in both directions the stickis adapted to engage the strap to somewhat cushion and finally terminatethe movement of the stick. Picker stick straps are subjected to a terricincessant beating by the picker stick. Various improvements have beenconceived with the idea of making it possible for the picker stick tostrike against the full width of a check strap; and in some instancespeculiarly shaped straps have been provided as a departure from theconventional strap which is substantially rectangular and has a straightparallel edge along its greatest dimension.

Another factor, which is a common problem, arises out of the frictionalheat generated between the sides of the picker stick and the adjacentsurface of the check straps. Not only is the friction the cause of wearbut the heat generated tends to destroy the parts so engaged.

One of the objects of the present invention is to make possible the useof a check strap of conventional rectangular shape having straightparallel edges, but which is peculiarly advantageous because of certaindetails which enable the strap to readily and quickly take a conicalform at the ends of the loop Where the strap is engaged by the pickerstick.

Another object of the invention is to provide va strap which has thecharacteristic of being self cooling, although the strap functionsproperly as a check strap to limit the movement of the picker stick.

According to the present invention, a check strap having parallel edgesis provided with grooves or depressions on one or both surfaces andwhich grooves or depressions extend only part way through the thicknessof the strap. The grooves or depressions may be of any number and ofsubstantially any configuration. Although many theories may be advancedas to why a strap having these characteristics is capable of functioningas here described, it seems apparent that the result is due to themodification of the surface of the material of the strap by reason ofthe provision of the depressions or grooves, thus making it possible forthe strap to adapt itself to the line of contact with the picker stick.This is not true if a conventional fiat facedA strap is used. Also, itis believed that the depressions or grooves serve to provide a selfcooling effect, while nevertheless insuring strength andofferingadequate surface for frictional engagement.

The foregoing and additional features and advantages of the inventionare described and claimed in the following specication and claims, andthe invention is illustrated in the following drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a fragmentary View` of a portion of a loom includingthe upper end of a picker stick and a check strap therefor, showing howthe check strap of this invention is adapted to be used;

Fig. 2 s a face view of one form of check strap, and illustratinggrooves arranged in parallel rows;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2

Fig. 4 is a View of a Amodication of groove arrangement showing a seriesof separate longitudinally extending grooves;

Fig. 5 is a view of amodication in which longitudinally extending curvedgrooves are provided, some of the curves extending in oppositedirections;

Fig. 6 is a View of further modication in which the depressions orgrooves are in the form of individual crosses;

Fig. 7 is a view of further modification in which the depressions arecircular in outline; and

Fig. 8 is a further modification showing grooves in the opposite facesof a strap.

The check strap of this invention is adapted for use with a picker stickafter the manner illustrated in Fig. l, in which the check strap l isshown as engaged by a picker stick 2, the strap being looped about thepicker stick and supported from a shuttle guide 3 by a bracket 4. Asshown in Fig. 1, the end portions of the looped strap l have conformedto the inclined face of the picker stick, with the result that thestrap'has the appearance of a cone, as viewed in Fig. 1.l In otherwords, the opposite ends of the loop have assumed'a shape in whichV thelower edge of the strap is shorter than the upper edgev and the endwalls slope outwardly from the lower edge toward the upper edge. Theadaptability of the strap of the present invention to conform to theinclined face of the picker stick is possible by reason of the followingpeculiar characteristics which will now be explained.

Check straps may be formed from any suitable material such as leather,rubber, fabrics, synthetic materials. The present invention does notrequire the use of any particular material', but is directed to thedetails which permit a strap of conventional rectangular shape to adaptitself to the contour shown in Fig. 1 while at the same time insuringthe escape of heat caused. by friction between the surface of the strapand the picker stick. This effect isobtained by providing one or bothsurfaces of the check strap` with a plurality of grooves, depressions,extending only part way through the thickness of the strap. In Fig. 2,grooves are indicated at 5 and are shown as extending in parallelarrangement. The depth of the grooves is illustrated in Fig. 3, which isa cross sectional view taken on the line 3--3A of Fig. 2.

Modiedarrangements of groovesanda variety of shapes for the depressionsmay be used satisfactorily. In Fig. 4, a seriesof grooves are shownextending lengthwise of the strap. The grooves shown. inv Fig. 4 differfrom the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 in that the grooves are curved fromend to end.

In Fig. 5, grooves are illustrated similar to those shown in Fig. 4 butan extra set of curved grooves is provided with the curves of each setextending in overlapping and opposite directions.

In Fig. 6, the grooves or depressions are-a series of small crosses.

Fig. 7 illustrates the use of a plurality of substantially circulardepressions.

InFig. 8, grooves of the type Shown in Figs. 2 and 3 are provided on theopposite faces ofthe same strap. Similarly, the type of groove ordepression illustrated in Figs. 4-7, inclusive, might be used on bothfaces of the same strap.

It will be understood that the types of grooves shown herein are merelyillustrative and that the present invention is not restricted to thepar,- ticular types of grooves shown.

The surface of the strap, thus provided with a plurality of grooves,facilitatesthe releaseV of heat caused by friction, and such dissipationof heat is muchY more rapid thant if a plain or smooth strap surface isused.

The adaptability of the strap to conform to-the angle of impact of thepicker stick is believed to be the result of the interrupted contour ofthe surface of the strap. Whereas a strap havingl a' conventional smoothor plain surface resists deformation by the picker stick, the strap ofthe present invention has shown an adaptability to change of shape.Apparently it stretches along the upper portion, as usedin Fig, l, when.under the influence of the strokes of a picker stick.

The provision of grooves or depressions may be accomplished by cuttingout the material from the surface of the check strap, or by pressingv orstamping the grooves-or depressions into the-surface of the strap, or bymolding theA desired depressionV contours iny event the strap is formedof rubber or other materiali susceptible to molding, after the manner inwhich automobile tire treads aremolded.

It WillV be clear that the check strap of this inventon, when subjectedto the repeated blows of a picker stick, isV changed in shapefso thatthe pickerv stick, instead of striking only the upper edge portion ofthe strap, ultimately strikes the entire breadth of the strap from topto bottom. Thus the strap has been converted from a conventional shapeto a shape conforming to the picker stick. After such a treatment, whensuch a strap is removed and opened up from its looped form, it will beobserved to have a substantially arcuate shape at those points whichhave been operated upon by the picker stick.

I claim:

1. A picker stick check strap comprising a strap of tough Wear resistantpliable material adapted to be usedv in the form of a loop and theinside of which loop is frictionally engaged by a picker stick, the wearface of the strap immediate the .i points defining the end of the pathof travel of the picker stick being provided with depressions extendingonly part way through the thickness of the strap, said depressions beingspaced inwardly from the marginal edge of said strap.

2. A picker stick check strap comprising a strap of tough wear resistantpliabler material adapted: to be used in theform of a loop and theinside of whichV loopV is frictionally engaged by a picker stick. thesurface of the strap immediate the points defining the end of the pathof travel of the picker stick being provided with depressions extendingonly part way through the thickness of the strap, said depressions beingspaced inwardlyA from the marginal edge of said strap.

3. AV picker stick check strap comprising a strap 0fI tOugh Wearresistant pliable material adapted to beused' in the form of a loop andthe inside of which', loop is frictionally engaged by a picker stick,the surface of the strap being provided with depressions extending onlypart way through the thickness of the strap, said depressions extendingas al plurality of rows of grooves lengthwise of the strap.

4. A. picker stick check strap comprising a strap of' tough wearresistant pliable material adapted tobe used.' in the form of a loop andthe inside ofv which loop is frictionally engaged by a picker stick, thesurface of the strap being provided With depressions extending only partway through the thickness of the strap, said depressions extending as aplurality of curved roWs of grooves lengthwise of the strap.

5. A picker stick check strap comprising a strap of tough wear resistantpliable material adapted tofbe used inthe formv of a loop and the insideof which loop is frictionally engaged by a picker stick, they surface ofthe strap immediate the points defining the end of the path of travel ofthe; picker stick being provided with depressions extending only partway through the thickness of the strap, said, depressions including amultiplicityY of separate recesses located along the width and length ofthe strap and said depressions being spaced away from the marginal edgeof' theA strap.

ROBERT BENJAMIN ETCHIER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,350,495 Crocker June 6, 19442,221,281 Bond Nov. 12, 1940 2,236,488 Clark Mar. 25, 1941 1,322,790Herbert Nov. 25, 1919 2,291,537r Howarth July 28, 1942

